Uber has unveiled a custom robotaxi, developed in collaboration with autonomous‑driving technology firm Nuro and electric‑vehicle maker Lucid, to be added to its global ride‑share platform. The vehicle seats six passengers and features an Uber‑designed in‑cabin ride experience. It will initially be available in San Francisco, where Uber is headquartered, marking a significant step forward for the company in the autonomous‑vehicle market, where it competes with rivals such as Waymo, owned by Google.
The Lucid Gravity robotaxi includes interactive screens that let riders control seat heaters, climate settings, and music. Passengers can also contact support teams or command the vehicle to pull over using the in‑cabin interface. Powered by Nvidia’s AI technology, the all‑electric vehicle benefits from the same platform other automakers are using to develop autonomous driving systems. Uber and Nvidia announced a partnership last year to deploy 100,000 robotaxis starting in 2027, with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang saying the collaboration aims to create a framework for the industry to scale autonomous fleets.
Road testing of the robotaxis began last month with human drivers present as a precaution. The launch of Uber’s robotaxi service is slated for later this year, pending regulatory clearance in California. Uber already offers users in select U.S. cities the option to hail robotaxis operated by Waymo; Waymo’s fleet in the San Francisco area is estimated to exceed 800 vehicles and is set to expand to ten U.S. cities and London in the coming months. Amazon‑owned Zoox has also launched a limited driverless ride service in parts of San Francisco as part of an “explorers” program.
Uber’s global head of autonomous mobility, Sarfraz Maredia, expressed pride in partnering with Lucid and Nuro to bring a state‑of‑the‑art robotaxi to market. The development of autonomous vehicles is rapidly advancing, with several companies investing heavily in the technology. As the industry evolves, autonomous ride‑hailing services are likely to become increasingly common in cities around the world.
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